Improvement in apparatus for extinguishing fires



.UNITED ,STATES PATE/NT v :Burns LAPHAM, on Bos'ron, MAssAoHUsn'rrs.

`IMPROVEMENT I`NV APPARATUS lFR *E'XTlNGUISHlNG 'Fl'RES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 8111,6"53ydated September 1, 1868; `antedatml i August 20,1368.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUs LAPHAM, ofthe c ity of Boston, lState of Massachusetts, have made new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires; `and Ldo hereby declare the following Ato be a full and exaet description ofthe same, reference beinghad to the drawings that accompany and form a part of these specications, in which- Figure 1 represents a house on fire, with two of my machines in application-the one a portable, the other a stationary, one; Fig. 2, stationary apparatus, with compartments containing chemicals; Fig. 3, longitudinal bisection ot' the style of Fig. 2, showing the position when being supplied with the chemicals; Fig. 4, one of my machines of different structure, being intended for a stationary one solely. Fig. 5 represents astationary revolving reser- Voir, connected with two auxiliary gas-retorts, and supplied with pipes leading to various buildings.

Letter A, a reservoir with compartments B B', C being the dividing-partition; F, the outlet; J J, the bearings on which the reservoir rests, and is turned to position in Fig. 3; D D, the openings through which the substances from which the extinguishing gas or liquid is producedare to be supplied,the position being as in Fig. 3; E, an outlet for the acidulated water to be poured on the lire when it is thought preferable to use this instead of gas F, escape-cock for gas when it is to be poured on the lire Gr, a reservoir with an upper chamber or shelf, on which one oi' the chemicals is placed, and so arranged as to empty itscontents into the main body of the reservoir, when desired, simply' by turning it on its bearings; H, a frame, in which han gs the box or reservoir G, as illustrated in Fig. 4; K, the upper compartment of G; P and N, openings for inserting the chemicals; L, pipe with stop-cock F for letting ott' the gas.

On second sheet of drawings is represented one or more stationary retorts androtating reservoirs, with pipes inthe street, from which branches may lead to one or more buildings.

Letter R represents a retort or reservoir, hung on the bearings J J, on which it may be revolved. Within are two compartments, as in G on the rst sheet of drawings, P and N' being thetwo'Supply-orifices; S S, stationary 4retorts,with screw-capsand pipes T T,with stopcocksn n; V,-is,treet-pipe; W W, branches to pipe Vand may-lead .to the various -rooms of the house, andbe supplied-withas manyof the stop-cocks, and at such points, as may `be advisable; Z, an arm sustained by the frame H, with an opening at i, into which enters a short pin projecting from the side of the retort R. This keeps B stationary.

The nature of my invention relates to placing a reservoir 'of a chemical re-extinguishin g agent, or materials for generating such, in some suitable, out-of-the-way place, and connecting therewith conducting-pipes leading to one or more buildings, said pipes having branches leading to the different compartmen ts of the building, or terminating outside, so that short hose may be used, if more safe or convenient; and, further, in the use of auxiliary retorts in the vicinity of, and to supply, the main reservoir.

The manner of rendering my invention applicable will be readily understood from the drawings. On Sheet 1, Fig. 3 shows the position of the reservoir A when at rest. The chemicals ,being putin atD and D',willfall into B and B. Whenever occasion calls for use the reservoir is turned on its bearings, as in Fig.

2, when the chemicals, brought in contact at m, will give oft'a gaseous antiphlogistic, which, through the cock F and pipe L, may be thrown upon the fire; or, if the relative situations of the fire and the reservoir Aare such that the stream or jet cannot be made to reach the devouring flames, the reservoir may be taken from its frame or support, and carried upon a mans back, as in Fig. 1. My apparatus is also such that, should it be deemed advisable to throw a saline liquid upon the burning timbers of a building instead of gas, the leading-hose may be attached at E instead ot' F, and this is represented in the portable reservoir in Fig. 1.

In the arrangement exhibited on the second sheet of drawings, whenever a re occurs in any ofthe buildings furnished with the branch pipes W, as soon as the inmates are out, the cocks w may be turned, the reservoir R turned on its bearings to give the chemicals opportunity to unite, and a stream of gas will ll the room or house, extinguishing theiire as if by magic. vWhen a supply of the re-extin guishing gas is required additional to that in the reservoir It, one or more retorts, S, may be charged, and their auxiliary aid secured through the pipes T. The cocks x may be concealed and protected in a suitable box with lock, Whose key shall be in keeping of the master of the house, or proper guardian of the building.

l do not claim any particular form of apparatus, nor particular chemical ingredients. Water acidulated 'with tartaric, sulphuric, or other acid should be used in one compartment of the retort or reservoir, and some carbonaceous substance'- as, for in stance, carbonate of soda-in the other, in proportion about four pounds of acid to seven gallons of Water in one, and iive pounds of soda in the other compartment. When these are brought in contact an anticombustive gas is rapidly produced. When thegas isretained vided with pipes leading to one or more buildings, for the purposes specified. Y

2. The application of pipes to connect said reservoir with one or more buildings, and the various rooms ofibuildings, for thev purposes set forth.

3. The auxiliary gas-generating retorts S, one or more, used in connection with the placed reservoir R, for the purposes speciiied.

RUFUS LAPHAM. Witnesses:

FRANK A. NICHOLS, D. C. CoLBY. 

